ADR - Court Roster Neutral Evaluator For Civil, Or Commercial Or Matrimonial Matters

The 8th Judicial District ADR Program is assembling a Court Roster of neutral evaluators to handle civil, commercial and matrimonial matters pending before the Court.

Neutral evaluators will not be compensated for the first two (2) hours spent in ADR. Thereafter, neutral evaluators, who are not court employees and who are not employed by an agency having a contract with the Office of Court Administration, will be paid at an hourly rate they have listed on the Court Roster for neutral evaluation work. Billable time will include actual time spent in neutral evaluation sessions and up to one-half hour of pre or post preparation time for each scheduled session. Compensation exceeding $1,500.00 is subject to prior court approval.

Neutral evaluators responsibilities may include:

• Coordinating with Court staff;
• Managing cases promptly and efficiently;
• Conducting neutral evaluations in accordance with the procedural and ethical standards related to neutral evaluation;
• Preparing agreements and/or disposition forms in a format acceptable to the Court.

Requirements for Court Roster membership include completion of at least six (6) hours of training in procedural and ethical matters related to neutral evaluation and either be:

1) A lawyer admitted to the practice of law for at least five (5) years AND have at least five (5) years of substantial experience in the specific subject area of the cases that will be referred; OR

2) A Judge, JHO, Court Attorney-Referee or Confidential Law Clerk to a Judge AND have at least five (5) years of substantial experience in the specific subject area of the cases that will be referred.

Appointment to the Court Roster is at the discretion of the Administrative Judge of the Eighth Judicial District in consultation with the Coordinator of the Unified Court System’s Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs. Admission will be competitive and will be based on each applicant’s training, experience, education, and availability to conduct neutral evaluations. Applicants may be required to participate in an interview process before a review committee appointed by the Administrative Judge.

Pursuant to the Rules of the Chief Administrator of the Courts, 22NYCRR 146.3b, neutrals shall be redesignated to the court roster every two years. In determining whether to redesignate any neutral, the neutral must show proof of compliance with the requirement that they attend at least six (6) hours of additional approved training relevant to their respective practice areas every two years pursuant to 22 NYCRR 146.5. Neutral evaluators may be removed from the panel at the discretion of the Administrative Judge in consultation with the Coordinator of the Unified Court System’s Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs.

 

APPLICATION FORM & INSTRUCTIONS

To be considered for the Eighth Judicial District Court Roster of Arbitrators, please complete the enclosed application and return it to:

Mary Louise Hayden, Esq.
8th Judicial District ADR Program Administrator
92 Franklin Street
Buffalo, NY 14202

Include a copy of your resume or curriculum vitae with references along with your hourly rate. Please also indicate if you utilize a sliding fee scale in appropriate cases.

Answer all questions completely.

Inform your references that they may be contacted by the 8th District Administrative Judge’s Office.

Sign and date the declaration at the end of the application.

COURT ROSTER NEUTRAL EVALUATOR APPLICATION
(in .PDF format)